On 29 May 2026, France Compétences published the decisions of its monthly commission: 73 new certifications have been added to the RNCP (national register of professional certifications) and the RS (specific register). A volume down on April (119 RNCP + 40 RS), in line with the 2026 monthly average, but one that confirms three underlying trends for anyone looking for a work-study programme: the rise of level 7 (Master, Mastère spécialisé, MSc), the mainstreaming of high-level digital — AI, data, cybersecurity, no code, UX-UI — and the structuring of the circular economy as a sector in its own right. Here's what to take away, with SuperAlternant.
The figures at a glance
| Indicator |
May 2026 |
Benchmark |
| New RNCP entries |
46 |
12-month average: 64/month |
| New RS entries |
27 |
12-month average: 38/month |
| Total |
73 |
2025 (record): 1,248 over the year |
| Share of level 7 in RNCPs |
41% |
First time above 40% in 2026 |
Of the 223 RNCPs and 117 RS registered since January, May 2026 accounts for around 21% of the year's RNCP volume. Not a record, then, but a particularly rich composition at Master's level and in digital.
Level 7: the Master's share keeps growing
Of the 46 new RNCP entries, 19 are level 7 (Master, Mastère spécialisé, MSc, engineering degree). It is the first time in 2026 that the 40% threshold has been crossed. The full breakdown:
- Level 3 (CAP, CQP, childminder): 8 entries, including 3 filed by IPERIA on personal services.
- Level 4 (Bac, BP, BT): 6 entries, including the "Repair advisor for electrical and electronic equipment" from the Ducretet network, a marker for the circular economy.
- Level 5 (BTS, DEUST, DUT): 6 entries.
- Level 6 (Licence, Bachelor, BUT): 7 entries, including the "UX-UI Designer" from IPAC Eduservices, which gives the role full bachelor-level recognition.
- Level 7 (Master, MS, MSc): 19 entries, i.e. 41%.
This shift towards level 7 is not just a fashion effect: it reflects employer demand for expert profiles (data, cyber, energy transition, innovation management) and the ability of schools to move up the value chain. For a work-study candidate, it is a positive signal: the number of Masters and Mastères spécialisés accessible through apprenticeship keeps growing, including in recent fields.
High-level digital goes mainstream
Digital accounts for 8 RNCP entries this month, of which 6 at level 7. The trend is clear: training in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data, no code / low code and UX-UI is now firmly established in higher education. A few concrete examples among the new entries:
- Expert in no code / low code solutions and transformation (ESTIAM, level 7) — "no code" has reached Master's level, a sign that these tools are no longer seen as a passing fad.
- Expert in massive data infrastructure and processing (AIVANCITY, level 7).
- Expert in data, network and system security (2600, level 7).
- Cybersecurity expert (CALTEA, level 7) — two level-7 cyber entries registered in May 2026.
- UX-UI Designer (IPAC Eduservices, level 6).
For a work-study student still weighing their options, two lessons: first, cybersecurity remains the most dynamic digital sector in apprenticeship (level 7 but also Bachelor, as we noted in our 2026 barometer of recruiting sectors). Second, no code and UX-UI are becoming mainstream: they are real entry points to expert roles, not just complementary skills.
The circular economy is (really) taking shape
Three of the 46 new RNCP entries explicitly fall under the circular economy: three "waste-valorisation technicians" and one "waste-valorisation agent" join the level-4 Ducretet entry. Repair, reuse and waste recovery are becoming recognised professions in their own right, with apprenticeship pathways that are expanding. This is good news for candidates focused on environmental transitions, especially as shortage occupations in the green transition are among the most open to work-study profiles (see our complete method for finding a work-study placement in 2026).
Official languages enter the RS en masse
Of the 27 new RS entries, 12 are language certifications from the French Ministry of Education, joining the Specific Register after the €1,500 CPF cap introduced in early 2026:
- DCLSF: French Sign Language.
- 9 DCLEP: German, English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, FLE (French as a Foreign Language), Italian, Portuguese, Russian.
- 2 DCLR: Breton, Occitan.
For a work-study student, these certifications provide a verifiable CV boost that can be funded via CPF, provided the course is eligible. If you are preparing a Bachelor or a Master with an international dimension, this is a useful addition to mention in your CV and cover letter for work-study.
How to use this register in practice
Three reflexes to adopt right now if you are targeting one of these new certifications:
- Check the RNCP/RS entry on the France Compétences website: it shows the level, the skills blocks, the certifying body and — crucially — the "CPF eligible" mention that conditions part of your funding.
- Identify the CFAs that deliver it: an RNCP is just a title; you also need a training centre that offers it as an apprenticeship near you. Use the search on SuperAlternant to cross-reference certification and city.
- Anticipate the impact of the 2026 NPEC revision: several of these new level-7 entries will be subject to France Compétences' €11,000 cap (see our article on the 3rd 2026 NPEC revision). Ask your future CFA which NPEC they will apply.
What about work-study students already on a contract?
Good news: nothing changes for contracts already signed. A new certification is just another entry in the register; it has no retroactive effect on your contract. However, if you are considering a re-orientation during your course or a Master 2 in work-study, these new level-7 entries — particularly in cybersecurity, data and no code — deserve your attention. This is typically the moment when a work-study pay simulator makes real sense to compare several paths.
What to watch in the next commissions
Three signals to follow in the June, July and later registers:
- The pace of level-7 entries: after May 2026's 41%, the question is whether the movement settles in for the long term or was a one-off. The 2025 trajectory (1,248 new certifications) suggests a long-term dynamic.
- The arrival of new RNCP entries in shortage occupations: health, early childhood, energy transition, rail. These sectors are structurally under-staffed, and apprenticeship remains the best entry channel.
- RQTH certifications (for people with disabilities), which can unlock up to €6,000 in employer hiring aid (see our dedicated article on apprenticeship hiring aid in 2026).
In short
The France Compétences commission of 29 May 2026 confirms three structuring trends for work-study in 2026: the move up to level 7, the mainstreaming of high-level digital (cyber, AI, data, no code, UX-UI) and the structuring of the circular economy as a recognised sector. For a work-study candidate, it is a strong signal that the training offer is widening. For an employer, it is an opportunity to recruit in skills that are still not crowded. For a CFA, it is the moment to update its catalogue and back programmes in shortage occupations.
To dig deeper, you can also read our full method for finding a work-study placement, the sectors hiring the most in 2026, our guide to choosing a CFA in 2026, or simulate your work-study pay.
Sources: France Compétences, decisions register of the 29 May 2026 commission (published 25 June 2026); certi-cpf.fr, article by Noémie Christien "May 2026: 73 new France Compétences certifications, level 7 and digital in the lead"; AEF Info. Data in force at the date of publication.
